Lakeland Woman Convicted in Shooting Death of Rival

Published: Friday, August 23, 2013 at 9:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 23, 2013 at 9:24 p.m.

BARTOW | A circuit court jury found Jamie Davis guilty Friday of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a woman who had been having sex with her longtime boy­friend.

Davis, 38, faces up to life imprisonment. She will be sentenced next month by Circuit Judge Roger Alcott.

She was found guilty as charged of killing Christina Tuzzolino, 32, who was shot on the morning of Aug. 8, 2010.

"It's been three long years that we've been waiting for this," said Tuzzolino's father, Terry Wilson. "The family is ecstatic with the outcome."

Wilson thanked prosecutors for their hard work in taking the case to trial.

"Now our daughter can rest in peace," he said.

During Friday's closing arguments, Assistant State Attorney David Sammons told jurors that Davis opened fire on Tuzzolino because she was angry.

Davis' boyfriend, Danny Beckner, and Tuzzolino were having a sexual relationship, he said.

"Jamie Davis was livid," Sammons said. "She was seeing red. She couldn't see straight. She grabbed a revolver to go out and confront them."

Beckner and Tuzzolino had been together at a motel, according to investigative reports. The two got in Beckner's truck and drove to the home on Sea Oats Circle in Lakeland where Davis and Beckner lived.

During the drive, Davis called Beckner's cellphone and a heated argument took place between Tuzzolino and Davis, and the women threatened each other, reports state.

When the truck arrived at Davis' home, Davis came outside with a .38-caliber revolver, and Tuzzolino was shot, reports state.

During closing arguments, Davis' lawyer, Adam Bantner, told jurors that his client got the handgun because she was afraid after Tuzzolino's threats, and the handgun accidentally fired during a struggle.

Davis testified the gun went off as she was "tussling" with Tuzzolino, who was still inside the truck.

Davis said the gun fired as she was trying to block Tuzzolino from striking her.

She said she saw something in Tuzzolino's hand that she thought was a knife.

Investigative reports suggest the object could have been a cellphone. A knife was not found in the area of the truck, reports state.

Bantner argued the gunshot wound to Tuzzolino's neck was fired at very close range and was consistent with a struggle taking place between the two women.

One neighbor testified to seeing a struggle. However, another neighbor told jurors that there wasn't a struggle, and Davis raised the gun to fire.

Prosecutors disagreed that Davis was acting in fear and insisted she could have called law enforcement for help.

"She wasn't scared," Sammons said.

After the shooting, Davis called 911 and lied to dispatchers that Tuzzolino was armed with a knife and was trying to force her way into Davis' home, Sammons said.

"From the very beginning, Jamie Davis is trying to say what she needs to say to make this go away," Sammons said.

[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. ]

<p>BARTOW | A circuit court jury found Jamie Davis guilty Friday of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a woman who had been having sex with her longtime boy­friend.</p><p>Davis, 38, faces up to life imprisonment. She will be sentenced next month by Circuit Judge Roger Alcott.</p><p>She was found guilty as charged of killing Christina Tuzzolino, 32, who was shot on the morning of Aug. 8, 2010.</p><p>"It's been three long years that we've been waiting for this," said Tuzzolino's father, Terry Wilson. "The family is ecstatic with the outcome."</p><p>Wilson thanked prosecutors for their hard work in taking the case to trial.</p><p>"Now our daughter can rest in peace," he said.</p><p>During Friday's closing arguments, Assistant State Attorney David Sammons told jurors that Davis opened fire on Tuzzolino because she was angry.</p><p>Davis' boyfriend, Danny Beckner, and Tuzzolino were having a sexual relationship, he said.</p><p>"Jamie Davis was livid," Sammons said. "She was seeing red. She couldn't see straight. She grabbed a revolver to go out and confront them."</p><p>Beckner and Tuzzolino had been together at a motel, according to investigative reports. The two got in Beckner's truck and drove to the home on Sea Oats Circle in Lakeland where Davis and Beckner lived.</p><p>During the drive, Davis called Beckner's cellphone and a heated argument took place between Tuzzolino and Davis, and the women threatened each other, reports state.</p><p>When the truck arrived at Davis' home, Davis came outside with a .38-caliber revolver, and Tuzzolino was shot, reports state.</p><p>During closing arguments, Davis' lawyer, Adam Bantner, told jurors that his client got the handgun because she was afraid after Tuzzolino's threats, and the handgun accidentally fired during a struggle.</p><p>Davis testified the gun went off as she was "tussling" with Tuzzolino, who was still inside the truck.</p><p>Davis said the gun fired as she was trying to block Tuzzolino from striking her.</p><p>She said she saw something in Tuzzolino's hand that she thought was a knife.</p><p>Investigative reports suggest the object could have been a cellphone. A knife was not found in the area of the truck, reports state.</p><p>Bantner argued the gunshot wound to Tuzzolino's neck was fired at very close range and was consistent with a struggle taking place between the two women.</p><p>One neighbor testified to seeing a struggle. However, another neighbor told jurors that there wasn't a struggle, and Davis raised the gun to fire.</p><p>Prosecutors disagreed that Davis was acting in fear and insisted she could have called law enforcement for help.</p><p>"She wasn't scared," Sammons said.</p><p>After the shooting, Davis called 911 and lied to dispatchers that Tuzzolino was armed with a knife and was trying to force her way into Davis' home, Sammons said.</p><p>"From the very beginning, Jamie Davis is trying to say what she needs to say to make this go away," Sammons said.</p><p>[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. ]</p>